At San Clemente, the favored filly Thought Process lived up to expectations. This report was initially published by Paulick Report.
Thought Process, a heavily favored filly aiming for her third stakes win, dominated the San Clemente Handicap at Del Mar on Saturday. She outpaced eight competitors in the $202,000 race for 3-year-old fillies, covering a mile on the grass. The Grade 2 race at Del Mar’s seaside track in California finished with a time of 1:36.24 and a winning margin of 1 3/4 lengths.
Jockey Hector I. Berios took the lead from the start, maintained control through the backstretch, and was clearly the strongest finisher. The chestnut filly paid out $2.80 and earned a winner’s purse of $120,000.
“She really took off in the stretch,” Berios remarked. “The owner reached out to my agent and said (Umberto) Rispoli wasn’t available, so I got the ride. She’s a big filly, very strong. I tried to keep her relaxed but still pushed her.”
The winning ownership group includes Breton C. Jones, Little Red Feather Racing, and Madakette Stable.
Trainer Phil D’Amato, known for his success on turf, notched his second stakes win of the day with Thought Process. Earlier, D’Amato earned a victory in the Wickerr Stakes with Almendares.
[Image: Hector Berios celebrating victory with Thought Process at San Clemente]
“You never get tired of winning at Del Mar,” D’Amato said. “Hector had to make his move a little earlier, which proved smart. He slowed down the pace and played it well. She’s a special filly.”
Finishing second in the San Clemente was the team of Pegram, Watson, and Wightman Casal.
Thought Process now boasts earnings of $344,200 with five wins from seven career starts, all on grass.
Earlier, Almendares surged late to claim the Wickerr Stakes, a $102,500 race featuring top competition. The 5-year-old gelding by British sire Havana Gray covered the mile on turf under jockey Antonio Fresu, winning by 1 1/4 lengths. This marked D’Amato’s third win in the Wickerr Stakes, boosting his Del Mar stakes victory count to 67.
Almendares is owned by a group led by John Rochfort, Ian McClean, and Saul Gevertz. This win, his fifth career victory, earned him $60,000 and a payout of $6.60 for his backers on Saturday. He now has total earnings of $385,695.
The runner-up in the Wickerr Stakes was Geo Joe, owned by Jesse Navarro.
[Image: Almendares and jockey Antonio Fresu celebrate after the Wickerr Stakes victory]
The racing action at Del Mar continues on Sunday, with the first post scheduled for 2 p.m. on an 11-race card.
This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on July 20, 2025.
Fan Take: Thought Process’s commanding win highlights the excitement and talent rising in turf racing, affirming Del Mar as a premier venue for young fillies. With trainers like D’Amato consistently delivering top performances, fans can expect thrilling competitions that continue to elevate the sport’s profile and build future champions.
